LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 December 1941, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Plane Overturns. An airman pilot under training was severely injured at the R.N.Z.A.F. station at Ohakea yesterday afternoon when an aircraft of which he was the sole occupant overturned on landing. He was Leading Aircraftman Alan James Craig (father, Mr Thomas Craig, Maungaohutu rural delivery, Taumarunui). L.A.C. Craig was admitted to the Palmerston North Hospital suffering from head injuries.

Eoys Help on Farms. Boys in Palmerston North are coming forward readily in an endeavour to assist farmers with seasonal work, and already eight secondary school pupils have taken jobs on farms in and around the Manawatu for the school holidays, while 32 have made themselves available for day work. These later will be offered weeding, hoeing and similar tasks as opportunity offers. Farmers in the main have expressed themselves thoroughly satisfied with this class of labour, and many who had boys employed last Christmas season were among the first to make application when they were, advised that schoolboys would again be available this year. Sentence Not Confirmed. The sentence of the district courtmartial which tried Private James Elliot, aged 24, married, 2nd N.Z.E.F., on a charge of wilful self-injury on active service to make himself unfit for service was promulgated yesterday. The Court found Elliot guilty and sentenced him to a year’s jail with hard labour. The officer convening the court-martial, Brigadier N. W. McD. Weir, N.Z.S.C., refused to confirm the finding and sentence. Paragraph 95, chapter 5, of the Manual of Military Law, dealing with non confirmation and re-trial, states:—“As a conviction and sentence are not valid till confirmed, a refusal of confirmation, duly entered upon the proceedings, operates to annul’the whole trial. In such a case accused has not been convicted and may legally be tried again.” Invalided Home. A party of 23 members of the Expeditionary Force have been invalided back to New Zealand after service in the islands. They are being sent from Auckland to their homes immediately after medical examination. Members of the draft are Lieutenant E. E. Lower, Sergeant-Major J. G. C. Key worth, Sapper W. M. Darroch, Private P. J. S. Morrish (Auckland), Sappers L. G. Ackroyd (Temuka), J. T. Arcus (Te Horo), C. D. Stevens (Palmerston North), G. Toneycliffe (Timaru), Privates J. Bridge (Opotiki), R. Brims (Greymouth), R. J. W. Cross (Invercargill), J. Green, J. F. Lynch (Christchurch), J. G. E. Hinds, L. K. Jacobs, N. J. Sukroo, K. G. Wood (Wellington), R. B. Jones (Waharoa), G. E. Read (Owaka), M. J. Symons (Hastings), A. J. Watson (Taupaki), W. R. Wilson and Driver V. A. Meates- (Dunedin).